Republican Lawmakers Ask for More Details on Libya Attacks

House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon signed a letter that criticized earlier administration suggestions that the attack in Libya was the result of an angry mob of protesters.

House and Senate Republicans are making a renewed effort to press the Obama administration about the timeline of events leading to the death of four Americans at a U.S. consulate in Libya two weeks ago.

The Republican chairmen of the House authorizing and appropriating committees wrote to President Barack Obama this morning, saying they would return from the campaign trail for more detailed classified briefings about the security situation at the American facility in Benghazi, Libya.

"While we appreciate your willingness to provide the House of Representatives with an interagency briefing last week, many of the members' questions were left unanswered," the Members wrote. "To that end, we are seeking additional information regarding the intelligence leading up to the attack, the security posture of our embassy, the role former Guantanamo Bay detainees may have played, as well as the way forward in Libya and, indeed, the region."

House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), joined by his colleagues from the Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Judiciary panels as well as several appropriators involved in funding the Defense and State departments, signed the letter, which criticized earlier administration suggestions that the attack in Libya was the result of an angry mob of protesters.

Libyan President Mohamed Megariaf this morning disputed claims that the protests in Benghazi were in response to an anti-Muslim film.

"Reaction should have been, if it was genuine, should have been six months earlier. So it was postponed until the 11th of September," Megariaf told NBC's "Today" show, saying he believed the timing was connected to the anniversary of 9/11.

The Senators questioned public statements that Rice made Sept. 16 suggesting the Benghazi incident was the result of a "spontaneous reaction" rather than a carefully planned terrorist strike.

"By the date of your comments, it was already clear that the attack in Libya was a terrorist attack, and that heavily armed and well trained attackers appeared to have prepared for an opportunity to attack U.S. interests. We also knew that there is a significant network of al Qaeda affiliated groups and other terrorists in eastern Libya, some of whom have attacked western interests in the last few months," the Senators wrote. "Yet, you repeatedly asserted the implausible explanation that the attack in Benghazi was a spontaneous reaction to the video despite growing evidence to the contrary.

"If the murder of four American diplomats is not 'an expression of hostility' it is difficult to know what would be," they added.

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March 13, 2015

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., right, hugs Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, after the Congressman spoke at the IAFF's Legislative Conference General Session at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, March 9, 2015. The day featured addresses by members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden.